Romania’s electoral bureau on Sunday rejected far-right hopeful Calin Georgescu’s candidacy for the rerun of last year’s annulled presidential election, sparking outrage among his supporters in Bucharest.
Georgescu — a past admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin and an EU and NATO critic — shot to prominence almost overnight to unexpectedly win the first round of a presidential election in November last year, but in a shock move, the Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the ballot shortly before the second round was to be held in December, after claims of Russian meddling and a “massive” social media promotion of Georgescu.
The Romanian Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) in a statement on Sunday said that it had rejected “the independent candidacy” of Georgescu for May’s rerun.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The bureau said its rejection was based on the top court’s annulment of the November ballot.
It had ruled that Georgescu’s candidacy “doesn’t meet the conditions of legality” as it breached “the obligation to ... defend democracy, which is based precisely on fair, honest and impartial” elections.
Georgescu, who is leading opinion polls with about 40 percent of the vote, can challenge the decision at the Constitutional Court.
He denounced the move on social media as “a direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide.”
“Europe is now a dictatorship, Romania is under tyranny,” the 62-year-old wrote.
The BEC ruling sparked clashes between supporters of Georgescu and police in Bucharest, with authorities trying to disperse violent protesters with tear gas as at least two police officers suffered injuries.
Several hundred people gathered in front of the BEC’s offices on Sunday evening, shouting: “Down with dictatorship” while hurling Romanian flags.
“Following a decision of the Central Electoral Bureau, participants of a public gathering ... broke through the cordon of gendarmes in order to enter the headquarters of the institution,” a police statement said.
As tensions rose again after the BEC published its reasoning, the authorities told journalists to “go to a safe area,” as demonstrators used fireworks and threw objects.
Romania has been plunged into political turmoil since the first round of the presidential election, with Georgescu, who was barely known until then, bagging a surprise win. In a rare move for an EU member nation, its constitutional court annulled the vote following claims of Russian meddling.
Tens of thousands of Georgescu’s supporters have taken to the streets, while Romanian authorities have warned of “hybrid actions carried out by the Russian Federation to undermine democracy in Romania.”
Georgescu — who denies any links to Moscow — has denounced the annulment as a “formalized coup d’etat.”
Opposed to sending aid to Ukraine, he has presented himself as “ultra pro” US President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors last week indicted Georgescu on numerous charges, including making “false statements” over his campaign financing, as well as “instigation to actions against the constitutional order, in attempted form.”
He has been placed under judicial control, meaning he has to regularly report to authorities.
US Vice President J.D. Vance has criticized Romanian authorities for “canceling elections because you don’t like the result,” claiming they are “so afraid of your own people that you silence them.”
Romania’s electoral commission on Saturday excluded a second far-right hopeful, Diana Sosoaca, from May’s presidential election, amid rising tension in the run-up to the May rerun of the poll. Earlier this month, Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau barred Calin Georgescu, an independent who was polling at about 40 percent ahead of the rerun election. Georgescu, a fierce EU and NATO critic, shot to prominence in November last year when he unexpectedly topped a first round of presidential voting. However, Romania’s constitutional court annulled the election after claims of Russian interference and a “massive” social media promotion in his favor. On Saturday, an electoral commission statement
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